Elevated Interleukin-21 Correlated to Th17 and Th1 Cells in Patients with Immune Thrombocytopenia

Overview

Journal J Clin Immunol

Publisher Springer

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2009 Dec 10

PMID 19997967

Citations 31

Authors

Xiaojuan Zhu

Daoxin Ma

Jingbo Zhang

Jun Peng

Xun Qu

Chunyan Ji

Ming Hou

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is critical in the development of autoimmune diseases. The role of IL-21 in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains unknown.

Materials And Methods: We examined the expression of IL-21, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-gamma in ITP patients and controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. Detection of specific anti-platelet GPIIb/IIIa and/or GPIb/IX autoantibodies was measured by modified monoclonal antibody specific immobilization of platelet antigens.

Results: IL-21 was expressed on both CD3(+)CD8(-) T cells and CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells by flow cytometry. Plasma IL-21 level and the percentage of CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-21(+) T cells and CD3(+)CD8(+)IL-21(+) T cells were significantly elevated in ITP patients compared to controls. The percentage of CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-17(+) T (Th17), CD3(+)CD8(-)IFN-gamma(+) T (Th1), and CD3(+)CD8(+)IFN-gamma(+) T (Tc1) cells also significantly increased in ITP patients. Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-21(+) T cells and Th17 cells. In addition, a positive correlation between CD3(+)CD8(-)IL-21(+) T cells and Th1 cells was also found.

Conclusion: Together, our results indicated a possible role of IL-21 in ITP patients correlated to Th17 and Th1 cells, and blockade of IL-21 may be a reasonable therapeutic strategy for ITP especially those with active disease.

Citing Articles

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